Reactive astrocytes as modulators of lesion development in MS

The pathological features of multiple sclerosis (MS), in addition to demyelination, are focal disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), recruitment of peripheral immune cells, neuronal and axonal damage, and activation of microglia and astrocytes. The causes of lesion formation in MS are largely unclear, but astrocytes appear to play a crucial role. In fact, there is increasing evidence that astrocytes are central players in the development of inflammatory lesions and neurodegeneration. Astrocytes respond to many changes in physiological function of the central nervous system, and reactive astrocytes are a characteristic feature of many neuropathological diseases. Once activated, they undergo fundamental morphological and functional changes.

In this project, we are characterising reactive sub-populations of astrocytes with respect to their functional and morphological parameters in collaboration with the anatomical institutes in Rostock and Aachen. For this project we are using different mouse models for MS as well as cell culture studies.